The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-02-03

1t takes g a heep' of bark to run such
an institution, for the annual consump-
ton, is from five to six thousand cords
per year, and to guard against posi-
BILE shortage an average Of one years
supply is kept on hand, One bark
shed is 300x40 feet--the other is 180x40.
AS we have intimated, there are
larger tanneries in the country but
we'll gamble on the proposition that
there isn't better arranged or more
cleauly one. We have visited tanner
les that ought to have been suppress
ed as nuisances-one can't say that Of
Watauga Tannery, In company with
Col. Yocum we visited every depart
ment, first taking the precaution to
light our pipe against possible
and probable stenches Well-we let
the pipe "go out" Actually, there
was no perceptible odor, and when
such cleanliness is shown in such work
we are not surprised to learn that the
product.exceIs.
As we halted at the office we found
this on our notebook Dimensions of
bark sheds already given.) That the
yard" all enclosed, is 30Ox42 feet,
The dry house is 180x45 feet, five
floors the leach house is 36x100 feet,
two floors. We had noticed the meth
cd of conveying refuse bark to
the furnaces which heat five
30-foot boilers, each 80 inches in
diameter; we had noticed how moth
ing was wasted, the refuse from the
tannery and the ashes from the fur
naces being composted and used on
the firms farm we had noticed what
admirable provision had been made
as against loss by fire, and we came to
the conclusion that this was not only
a business OF great magnitude but one
wherein the utmost system prevailed
in its management, from the smallest
OF the largest detail
If one wants to obtain a fair idea OF
this establishment he should do as
THE COMET writer has done, visit it
see how the latest improved machin-
cry propelled by steam power is called
upon to do what was formerly manual
labor, and if visitor is lucky enough
to obtain Col. Yocum as CicerOne will
guarantee a pleasant trip,one that will
be full of interest, for the Col. can
leak information if he feels inclined
to. He used to be an Attorney when
he lived in Pennsylvania, so as a mat
ter of course, he can't always be relied
upon.
THE JOHNSON CITY FOUNDRY AND MA
( CHINE WORKS.
, The manufacturing enterprise to
} which THE COMET now refers was first
established as an individual enterprise
but about one year ago its control pas
sed to a joint stock company, whose
nominal capital is $4,000 although
the amount actually in use is $4,000
or more. The President of the Com.
: panv is Col. T. E. Matson Mr.. J. G.
Hardin is Secretary and Treasurer
Samuel Simcox is in charge OF the
: Machine shop and Mr. DeGroate o
) the foundry. Several Knoxville gen
, tlemen are stockholders in the Com
, pany, among whom we name Messrs
| G. Powell, r. M. khea and Col. e. G
r Reeves. The management of the en-
terprise rests with the President anC
3 Sec. and Treas, and these gentlemen
, have been unhagging in their efforts tt
q. build up a manufacturing interes
e here of more than ordinary impor
i, tance. They and the other stock
= holders are pleased with the result
D thus far secured, and they have
i right to look forward hopefully to tn
e future. Material additions have beel
e made to.the working facilities of tn
: shops during the past year, and the
II are now well prepared to execute an
l. order that may be entrusted to them
/ The specialties of fireworks are th
5 manufacture Of car and bridge casI
l. ings, and recently a contract ha
e been made with another railroad t
d supply it with bridge castings, for 10
miles of that road Another impol
3 tant department of the business come
e from the narrow gauge road for II
ir pairs of all kinds, and the Bristol
if road has given the works larg
= amount of business in the way of cas-
L ings. So far as the facilities enioye
L by the johnson City Foundry an
j. Machine Works for filling orders fC
st these specialties are concerned W
p need only say that the Company hi
k expended larre sum in enlargin
n the buildings, in adding to patterr
n and increasing the working eflicienC
d, of machinery. Not only that but a
OF exceptionally effective body of wor
le men are employed in the shops. tt
- managers of departments thoroug